System and method for configuring a wireless control system of a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A system for mounting in a vehicle and for providing a control signal to a remote device based on information stored in a portable electronic device includes a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting a control signal to the remote device. The system also includes a first circuit configured to receive first information from the portable electronic device via inductive-coupling between the portable electronic device and the first circuit when the portable electronic device is brought within the induction field of the first circuit. The system also includes a second circuit configured to use the first information received from the portable electronic device and to at least one of format the control signal in accordance with the first information and to cause the radio frequency transmitter to format the control signal in accordance with the first information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/328,663, titled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING A WIRELESS CONTROLSYSTEM OF A VEHICLE USING INDUCTION FIELD COMMUNICATION,”filed Dec. 4,2008; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods forconfiguring a wireless control system of a vehicle.

Wireless control systems are provided in vehicles for activities such asactuating a remote device (e.g., a garage door opener), establishing adata communication link with a remote system, establishing a voicecommunication link with a portable electronic device, and for otherpurposes.

Vehicle-based wireless control systems are sometimes difficult toconfigure for use with particular remote devices, systems, and/orportable electronic devices.

Improved systems and methods for configuring a wireless control systemof a vehicle are needed.

SUMMARY

One embodiment relates to a system for mounting in a vehicle and forproviding a control signal to a remote device based on informationstored in a portable electronic device. The system includes a radiofrequency transmitter for transmitting a control signal to the remotedevice. The system also includes a first circuit configured to receivefirst information from the portable electronic device viainductive-coupling between the portable electronic device and the firstcircuit when the portable electronic device is brought within theinduction field of the first circuit. The system also includes a secondcircuit configured to use the first information received from theportable electronic device and to at least one of format the controlsignal in accordance with the first information and to cause the radiofrequency transmitter to format the control signal in accordance withthe first information.

Another embodiment relates to a method for providing a control signalfrom a radio frequency transmitter coupled to a vehicle to a remotedevice based on information stored in a portable electronic device. Themethod includes receiving first information from the portable electronicdevice via inductive-coupling between the portable electronic device anda first circuit when the portable electronic device is brought withinthe induction field of the first circuit. The method further includesusing a second circuit to process the first information received fromthe portable electronic device to at least one of format the controlsignal in accordance with the first information and to cause the radiofrequency transmitter to format the control signal in accordance withthe first information. The method further includes transmitting thecontrol signal to the remote device.

Another embodiment relates to a system for facilitating hands-freecommunication in a vehicle using a portable electronic device. Thesystem includes a first circuit configured to receive first informationfrom the portable electronic device via inductive-coupling between theportable electronic device and a first circuit when the portableelectronic device is brought within the induction field of the firstcircuit. The system further includes a hands-free communication moduleconfigured to control an RF transceiver and to use the first informationreceived at the first circuit to connect the RF transceiver to theportable electronic device. The system yet further includes electronicsconfigured to restrict the use of other portable electronic devices inthe vehicle.

Alternative exemplary embodiments relate to other features andcombinations of features as may be generally recited in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The disclosure will become more fully understood from the followingdetailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingfigures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle having a control systemconfigured to provide a control signal to a remote device, according toan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 3A is a flow chart of a process of receiving and using informationfrom a portable electronic device, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3B is a flow chart of a process of using information received froma portable electronic device, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4A is a block diagram of a portable universal transmitter andremote device in communication with each other, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4B is a flow chart of a process of communications between thecomponents of FIG. 4A, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5A is a block diagram of a portable universal transmitter, remotedevice, and vehicle in communication with each other, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5B is a flow chart of a process of communications between thecomponents of FIG. 5A, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6A is a block diagram of a portable electronic device and vehiclecontrol system, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6B is a detailed block diagram of a vehicle control unit, accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6C is a flow chart of a pairing process between a vehicle controlsystem and portable electronic device, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram of a vehicle interior, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7B is a block diagram of a vehicle control system, according to anexemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 7C is a block diagram of a control unit for mounting to a vehicle,according to another exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Before turning to the figures, which illustrate the exemplaryembodiments in detail, it should be understood that the application isnot limited to the details or methodology set forth in the descriptionor illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that theterminology is for the purpose of description only and should not beregarded as limiting.

Referring generally to the figures, systems and methods for configuringa wireless control system of a vehicle using magnetic field inductionare shown. Particularly, the figures and accompanying text variouslydescribe systems and methods for training the wireless control system ofthe vehicle using a portable electronic device, where the portableelectronic device communicates the information to train the vehicle'swireless control system via magnetic field induction (e.g., “near fieldcommunication”). According to various exemplary embodiments, such asystem may include a first circuit (e.g., a near field communicationcircuit) configured to receive the information from the portableelectronic device via magnetic field induction. A second circuit coupledto the first circuit may be configured to use the information toconfigure (e.g., “train”) the wireless control system to transmit anappropriate control signal to a target remote device via an RFtransceiver. For example, the second circuit may be configured to usethe information received from the portable electronic device at thefirst circuit to format the control signal for transmission to theremote device or to cause the transmitter to format the control signalfor transmission to the remote device.

Training a Vehicle Control System for Communication with the RemoteDevice Using Information Received Via Induction Field Communication

Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a vehicle 100 having acontrol system 102 configured to provide a control signal to a remotedevice 104 is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. According tothe embodiment shown FIG. 1, remote device 104 is a garage door openerfor opening a garage door such as the garage door illustrated in FIG. 1.Remote device 104 includes or is associated with a receiver thatreceives the control signal and causes the garage door opener to openthe garage door based on the received control signal. A receiverincluded or associated with remote device 104 such as a garage dooropener is typically configured to cause remote device 104 to actuate orchange states only if the control signal is determined to be from anauthorized device. The receiver typically determines whether or not thecontrol signal is from an authorized device based on characteristics ofthe control signal. For example, a receiver included or associated withremote device 104 may be configured to cause remote device 104 toactuate or change state if the control signal is sent at a certainfrequency or frequencies, includes representations of particular codes,is formatted in a particular way, includes a certain cryptography key,is modulated a certain way, and the like.

A receiver included or associated with a remote device such as remotedevice 104 is typically associated with one or more portabletransmitters such as portable transmitter 106 configured to provide anappropriately formatted control signal to the receiver. Portabletransmitter 106 may be an original transmitter sold with remote device104 and/or previously configured for communications with the receiver ofremote device 104. Control system 102 mounted in vehicle 100 may notgenerally be pre-configured for communications with remote device 104when first sold to a user (with the vehicle or otherwise). Controlsystem 102 can be configured for wireless communications with remotedevice 104 via a one or more configuration processes (e.g., trainingprocesses, setup processes, etc.). For example, control system 102 caninclude a radio frequency receiver configured to receive radio frequencycontrol signals from portable transmitter 106 and to configure itselfusing the received radio frequency control signals.

According to an exemplary embodiment, control system 102 includes acircuit 108 configured to receive information from portable transmitter106 via magnetic field induction between circuit 108 and a circuit 110of portable transmitter 106. Using the information received fromportable transmitter 106 via the magnetic field induction, controlsystem 102 configures itself for transmitting a control signal formattedfor authorized reception by remote device 104. According to variousexemplary embodiments, circuit 108 is configured to receive theinformation from portable transmitter 106 according to a near fieldcommunication (NFC) specification, an RFID specification, a contactlesscard specification (e.g., ISO 14443), or any other communicationsspecification providing the short-range exchange of data via magneticfield induction.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of control system 102 is shown,according to an exemplary embodiment. Control system 102 is shown toinclude circuit 108 (i.e., training circuit), radio frequency (RF)transmitter 202, I/O Circuit 208, UI Circuit 210, and processing circuit212. According to an exemplary embodiment, control system 102 isconfigured to be mounted to a vehicle such as vehicle 100 (e.g., mountedin a vehicle interior location, a center stack location, a dashboardlocation, a center console location, an overhead console, a floorconsole location, an instrument panel location, a door panel location, avisor location, a rear-view mirror, a headliner location, etc.).

According to an exemplary embodiment, during normal operation, controlsystem 102 is commanded to transmit a control signal to remote device104 based on user input signals received from user interface (UI) 224 atUI circuit 210. When one of the plurality of user interface elements 226(e.g., buttons, switches, touch-sensitive elements, voice recognitionsystems, touch screens, etc.) are pressed or otherwise used, UI circuit210 and processing circuit 212 cause RF transmitter 202 to transmit acontrol signal associated with the pressed or activated user interfaceelement 226. Processing circuit 212 may be configured to format thecontrol signal or to cause transmitter 202 to format the control signalin a way that is expected to result in a successful reception byreceiver 204 of remote device 104. The transmission of the controlsignal can also be triggered based on input received from other vehiclesystems 222 via I/O circuit 208. Other vehicle systems 222 may include,for example, a positioning device (e.g., GPS receiver) and processingcircuit 212 may be configured to cause RF transmitter 202 to transmitthe control signal based on position information received at I/O circuit208. Other vehicle systems 222 may also include vehicle communicationssystems (e.g., configured to receive data from a mobile phone, anInternet source, or otherwise), vehicle center stack control systems,voice recognition systems, body electronics modules configured toreceive signals from key fobs or other remote controls, and the likethat may be configured to provide signals that control or otherwiseaffect the behavior of control system 102.

Original portable transmitter 106 is shown to include RF transmitter 206and training circuit 110, according to an exemplary embodiment. RFtransmitter 206 and other circuitry (e.g., a user interface element,processing circuit, memory, etc.) of original portable transmitter 106are configured to transmit a control signal configured for successfulreception by RF receiver 204 of remote device 104. In one embodiment,control system 102 may include an RF receiver 207 configured to receivea control signal transmitted by RF transmitter 206. Based on thereceived control signal, control system 102 may configure itself totransmit appropriate control signals to remote device 104 via RFtransmitter 202. The control circuitry for learning an RF control signalfrom the original portable transmitter and for transmitting the learnedcontrol signal, on command, to remote device 104 may be as generallysold by Johnson Controls, Inc. in the HomeLink® product line.

According to an exemplary embodiment, control system 102 may alsoconfigure itself for operation with remote device 104 usingcommunications exchanged between training circuit 110 of originalportable transmitter 106 at training circuit 108 of control system 102.Training circuit 108 is configured to receive the communications fromtraining circuit 110 via magnetic field induction. According to anexemplary embodiment, another near field communication technique may beutilized for communications between training circuit 110 and trainingcircuit 108. Each of training circuits 108 and 110 are shown to includean antenna (antennas 218 and 220, respectively). Antennas 218 and 220may be loop antennas configured to form an air-core transformer whenlocated within each other's near field (e.g., “induction field”, “nearzone”, within a small number of wavelengths, etc.). Training circuit 110may generally be configured to generate current flow in antenna element220 to induce current flow in antenna 218 in a way that can berecognized by training circuit 108 for the purpose of communicating datafrom training circuit 110 to training circuit 108. In other words, thetraining circuits and their respective antennas are configured tocommunicate via inductive-coupling, the training circuits using theinductive-coupling to communicate over a small distance (e.g., 1-4centimeters, less than 4 centimeters, less than 10 centimeters, etc.).

According to an exemplary embodiment, training circuit 110 may beconfigured to generate electromagnetic radiation within the radiofrequency ISM band of 13.56 MHz and having a bandwidth of around 2 MHz.According to various other exemplary embodiments, training circuit 110may be configured to generate electromagnetic radiation within or arounddifferent frequency bands and/or having different bandwidths. Accordingto some exemplary embodiments, training circuit 108 is configured as anRFID reader according to one or more standard or proprietary RFIDspecifications. According to various embodiments, by contrast, RFtransmitter 202 and RF transmitter 206 are configured for far field RFcommunications (e.g., radiation field communications, in the band of288-433 MHz, around 150-600 MHz, around 900 MHz, around 2.4 GHz, etc.).

When information is received by training circuit 108 via the inductionfield communication, processing circuit 212 may be configured to use theinformation to format a control signal to be sent to remote device 104and/or to cause RF transmitter 202 to format the control signal inaccordance with the first information. In other words, the informationreceived via the near field inductive-coupling of the portableelectronic device and the training circuit of the vehicle control systemcan be used to “train” the control system for effective communicationswith a remote device such as a garage door opener.

Processing circuit 212 may also be configured to initiate and/or controlthe actual transmission of the control signal. When information isreceived by training circuit 108, processing circuit 212 may beconfigured to store the received information in memory, to process thereceived information and/or to set variables stored in memory 214. Insome exemplary embodiments, the information received by training circuit108 may include a code to be transmitted by RF transmitter 202. In otherexemplary embodiments, the information received by training circuit 108may include one or more bits of data or other parts of information thatmay be recognized and used by processing circuit 212 to set variablesstored in memory 214. For example, memory 214 may store a manufactureridentifier from which a code is generated; the code included with or ina control signal for transmission to remote device 104. In such anembodiment, and in various other embodiments, the information receivedat training circuit 108 may be or represent a manufacturer identifier.Processing circuit 212 can store the manufacturer identifier in memory214 for later use by control system 102 (e.g., to format the controlsignal transmitted by RF transmitter 202 and/or to cause the radiofrequency transmitter to format the control signal, etc.). According tovarious exemplary embodiments, the information transmitted to andreceived by training circuit 108 can be or include one or more of afixed code, a portion of a variable code, a manufacturer identifier, afrequency, a crypt key, a rolling code count, synchronizationinformation, a modulation scheme identifier, and any other data that maybe used by control system 102 to provide a control signal expected to berecognized and/or authorized by remote device 104. Processing circuit211 may further include a processor 216 for executing the tasksdescribed herein (e.g., by executing computer code stored in memory) andfor facilitating the activities of control system 102.

Referring to FIG. 3A, a flow chart of a process 300 for using a vehiclecontrol system (e.g., control system 102 of FIG. 2) to learn informationfrom a portable electronic device (e.g., original portable transmitter106 of FIG. 2) via induction field communication and for generating acontrol signal for transmission to a remote device is shown, accordingto an exemplary embodiment. A portable electronic device may be broughtnear (e.g., within five centimeters) a training circuit of the controlsystem (step 302). The portable electronic device includes information(e.g., information regarding a control signal for a garage door opener)that may be transmitted to the circuit. The training circuit and/or theportable electronic device may be configured to automaticallycommunicate when the portable electronic device is brought near thetraining circuit. Information from the portable electronic device may bereceived by using the training circuit (step 304) and via inductionfield communications. The information may be used by the control systemto configure the control system for effective transmission to a remotedevice. For example, the information may be used to format a controlsignal in accordance with the information and/or to cause a RFtransmitter to format the control signal in accordance with theinformation (step 306). The information might be used to select afrequency, to generate a coded transmission based on a fixed codescheme, to generate a coded transmission based on a rolling code scheme,or to otherwise format the code based on the information.

Referring now to FIG. 3B in addition to FIG. 3A, step 306 of process 300is described in greater detail. The control system may be configured tostore the information received in step 304 in memory (step 352)(e.g.,memory device 214 shown in FIG. 2). Prior to, during, and/or afterstorage in memory, the information may be processed to determine controlsignal characteristics (step 354) and the determined control signalcharacteristics may be stored in memory. The control system may then(e.g., later—when the vehicle is driven near a remote system) receive arequest (e.g., via a button press, via a voice command, etc.) totransmit a control signal to the remote system (step 356). The controlsignal characteristics may then be recalled from memory (step 358) and acontrol signal utilizing the recalled control signal characteristics maybe generated (step 360). The generated control signal may be provided toan RF transmitter for transmission (step 362) and transmitted to theremote system. A training process between the vehicle control system andthe remote system may need to be completed, by, for example, pressing abutton on the remote system, transmitting the control signal a number oftimes, releasing the transmit button when the remote system is seen toactuate, via bi-directional communication with the remote system, etc.However, according to various exemplary embodiments, at least part ofthe process of training the control system to the remote system iscompleted via the transmission of the information from the portableelectronic device to the control system via inductive-coupling.

In FIG. 4A, a system for training a portable universal transmitter 402to a remote device 410 such as a garage door opener is shown, accordingto an exemplary embodiment. Portable universal transmitter 402 includesa training circuit 406 and remote device 410 includes a training circuit414. Training circuits 406, 414 may be configured as described in FIG. 2(e.g., circuits 406, 414 are configured to utilize antenna elements 408,416 for induction field communications). Accordingly, portable universaltransmitter 402 receives information for configuring itself from remotedevice 410 via training circuit 406. The configuration activity may beas described above or otherwise (e.g., a processing circuit maydetermine control signal characteristics and/or store the control signalcharacteristics in a memory device based on the received information).Based on the configuration activity, the control signal characteristics,and/or the information, portable universal transmitter 402 provides anappropriately formatted control signal to remote device 410, and theremote device's receiver 412, from RF transmitter 404.

Referring now to FIG. 4B, and continuing to refer to FIG. 4A, a flowchart of a process 450 for training portable universal transmitter 402based on information received from remote device 410 is shown, accordingto an exemplary embodiment. Process 450 is shown to include bringingportable universal transmitter 402 near remote device 410's trainingcircuit 414 (which may be located apart from the rest of remote device410) (step 452). Process 450 is further shown to include receivinginformation at training circuit 406 from training circuit 414 usingantenna elements 408, 416 (step 454). The information received byportable universal transmitter 402 may be as described above orotherwise includes data for allowing a receiving device to train toremote device 410. Process 450 further includes the step of usingcircuitry of portable universal transmitter 402 to configure itself totransmit a control signal to the remote device 410's receiver via RFtransmitter 404 (step 456). When user input is received at portableuniversal transmitter 402 (e.g., via a button press)(step 458), portableuniversal transmitter 402 transmits a control signal from RF transmitter404 to receiver 412 of remote device 410 (step 460), the control signalbased on the information received at portable transmitter 402's trainingcircuit 406.

Using a Portable Universal Transmitter to Learn Information from aRemote Device and to Train a Vehicle Control System for Communicationwith the Remote Device Using the Learned Information

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, a system and process 550 for training avehicle transmitter 520 with a portable universal transmitter 502 forcommunications with a remote device 508 are shown, according to anexemplary embodiment. Portable universal transmitter 502 may be broughtnear training circuit 510 of remote device 508 (step 552)(e.g., a usermay hold portable universal transmitter 502 up near a garage dooropener). Antenna element 512 of training circuit 510 and antenna element506 of training circuit 504 may be configured to inductively couple ineach other's inductive fields in a way that training circuit 510communicates information to training circuit 504. Training circuit 504of portable universal transmitter 502 can receive information fromremote device 508 (step 554). Portable universal transmitter 502 maydetermine control signal characteristics from the received information,and the information and/or the characteristics derived from theinformation may be stored in memory of portable universal transmitter502 (step 556). After this step, portable universal transmitter 502 canbe used for a length of time (days, weeks, years, etc.) as a handheldtransmitter for actuating remote device 508. As described above, or viaa different process, portable universal transmitter 502 can be used totrain a control system or transmitter 520 of vehicle 514.

Referring still to FIG. 5B, portable universal transmitter 502 may bebrought near training circuit 516 of vehicle 514 (step 558) to begin atraining process. Training circuit 516 can receive information fromtransmitter 502 (step 560) via near field inductive coupling betweenantenna element 506 and antenna element 518. Vehicle 514 may store theinformation (and/or characteristics derived from the information) inmemory of vehicle 514 (step 562). The information and/or characteristicsderived from the information may be recalled from memory and used for atransmission of a control signal from transmitter 520 of vehicle 514 toremote device 508 (step 564).

Exchanging Pairing Information Via Induction Field Communication Betweena Vehicle Control System and a Portable Electronic Device

Referring generally to FIGS. 6A-C, some types of portable electronicdevices are configured to pair with other devices having compatibletransceivers (e.g., Bluetooth transceivers). Pairing processes typicallyrequire users to provide some authentication details such as a passkeyto at least one of the portable electronic device or the device withwhich the portable electronic device will connect. In FIGS. 6A-C,exemplary systems and methods for facilitating the pairing processbetween a portable electronic device and a vehicle control system usinginduction field communication are shown.

In FIG. 6A, a portable electronic device 602 is shown connected tovarious components of a vehicle control system 600. Portable electronicdevice 602 includes training circuit 604 configured to communicate witha training circuit 614 of vehicle control system 600. Portableelectronic device 602 further includes RF transceiver 606 for forming awireless RF communications link with RF transceiver 610 of vehiclecontrol system 600. According to an exemplary embodiment, vehiclecontrol system 600 is a BlueConnect® hands-free communication systemsold by Johnson Controls, Inc. According to various other exemplaryembodiments, vehicle control system 600 may be a navigation system, anaudio system, a vehicle computer system, or any other vehicle-mountedsystem which may be configured to communicate with portable electronicdevice 602 via transceivers 606, 610. In the embodiment shown in FIG.6A, vehicle control system 600 includes user interface 612 which may beor include one or more buttons, touch screen areas, switches, displayelements, or other elements configured to provide output to a userand/or to receive user input. Vehicle control system 600 furtherincludes a microphone 616 for a user to provide an audio input (e.g.,speech, verbal commands, verbal requests, numbers, digits, letters,etc.) and an audio output 618 (e.g., a local speaker driven by a localamplifier, an interface configured to provide audio signals to a vehicleaudio system, etc.). Hands-free circuit 620 may be electronicsconfigured to cause the connection of RF transceiver 610 to RFtransceiver 606 and to control a hands-free phone call via microphone616, audio output 618, and portable electronic device 602.

Referring now to FIG. 6B, a detailed block diagram of vehicle controlunit 630 is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. Vehicle controlunit 630 may be configured to serve as a communications gateway for thevehicle to which it is attached, configured to receive inputs fromvariety of systems or components and to provide one or more outputs to auser from the variety of systems or components.

Vehicle control unit 630 includes a data processing system 632. Dataprocessing system 632 may be generally configured to control orfacilitate functions of vehicle control unit 630. Data processing system632 may be or include digital and/or analog processing componentsconfigured to provide data/signal processing features. Data processingsystem 632 may be or include a single data processing device (e.g., aprocessor) or multiple data processing devices (e.g., multipleprocessors, integrated circuits, etc.). Data processing system 632 mayinclude any combination of program software (e.g., computer code,executable code, object code, etc.) stored in memory and electronicsconfigured to execute the program software or to conduct otherfunctions. Data processing system 632 may coordinate, control, and/orfacilitate the various devices, components and features of vehiclecontrol unit 630. According to one exemplary embodiment, data processingsystem 632 may include devices or modules such as a text-to-grammarmodule, a speech recognition module, and a text-to-speech module.

Vehicle control unit 630 further includes a display driver 634. Displaydriver 634 may be coupled to one or more electronic display such asoutput display 646 and to provide display information to the displays.Display driver 634 may be configured to control output display 646 withtouch-screen capabilities, while in other exemplary embodiments, displaydriver 634 may be configured to control output display 646 withoutmaking use of touch-screen capabilities.

Memory device 638 of vehicle control unit 630 may be configured to storedata accessible by data processing system 632 or any other component ofvehicle control unit 630. Memory device 638 may store data/informationfrom any of the connected devices or systems capable of communicatinginformation to control unit 630. For example, memory device 638 maystore data from portable electronic device 602, remote server 660,vehicle data bus 648 (or any electronics connected thereto), datareceived by training circuit 652, data received from audio input device640, data received from user interface 642, etc. Data may be stored inmemory device 638 for long term use, intermediate user in a currentcalculation or process, or for any other purpose. Memory device 638 maybe or include one or both of volatile memory and non-volatile memory.According to an exemplary embodiment memory device 638 may store one ormore user profiles, display profiles, communication profiles, navigationprofiles, or any other type of user or system setting file. Memorydevice 638 may further be configured to store computer code, objectcode, script code, or other code executable by data processing system632 or other electronics of control unit 630. According to an exemplaryembodiment, when data processing system 632 executes computer code thatit stores or is stored in memory device 638, data processing system 632becomes a particular machine or circuit configured to provide orfacilitate various of the tasks described herein.

Vehicle control unit 630 is shown coupled to an audio input device 640,a user interface 642, an audio output device 644, and audio system 650.User interface 642 is typically configured to facilitate tactile userinteraction with vehicle control system 600. In various exemplaryembodiments, user interface 642 may include pushbuttons, rotatable knobsor other tactile user contact points. Audio input device 640, forexample a microphone, may be configured to receive audio generated by auser for transmission to data processing system 632 for speechrecognition or for transmission to another system (e.g., portableelectronic device 654) or for any other purpose. Audio output device644, for example a built-in speaker, is configured to provide the userwith an audio prompt of various functions, such as user selectionconfirmation. Audio system 650 can provide a number of input/outputtasks. According to an exemplary embodiment, audio system 650 is theprimary audio system of the vehicle (e.g., signals sent to audio system650 are played back on one or more permanently installed speakers in thevehicle).

Output display 646 may be configured to display data related to thecontrol of the vehicle functions, communications features, entertainmentfeatures, or the like. In still other exemplary embodiments, outputdisplay 646 may be of any technology (e.g., LCD, DLP, plasma, CRT),configuration (e.g., portrait or landscape), or shape (e.g., polygonal,curved, curvilinear). Output display 646 may be a manufacturer installedoutput display, an aftermarket output display, or an output display fromany source. Output display 646 may be an embedded display (e.g., adisplay embedded in the control system or other vehicle systems, parts,or structures), a standalone display (e.g., a portable display, adisplay mounted on a movable arm), or a display having any otherconfiguration.

Vehicle control unit 630 is additionally coupled to training circuit 652(e.g., via a digital wire connection, via an analog wire connection, viaa wireless connection, etc.) configured to communicate with a trainingcircuit of a portable device (e.g., training circuit 604 of portableelectronic device 602). The communications between training circuit 652and training circuit 604 can be used by training circuit 652 and/or dataprocessing system 632 to pair transceiver 610 and 606 for regular RFcommunications. Once paired, transceiver 606 of device 602 may conductany number of data communications tasks. For example, transceiver 610might pass audio data to transceiver 656. In embodiments where portableelectronic device 602 includes mobile phone capability, portableelectronic device 602 can communicate the audio data to remote server660 (e.g., a mobile phone provider, an internet server, etc.). It shouldbe appreciated that any type of data can be passed between transceiver610 and 606 and/or to remote server 660 (e.g., audio data, meta data,voice data, display data, etc.).

Referring now to FIG. 6C, a process 670 for pairing portable electronicdevice 602 and a vehicle control system 600 (e.g., via vehicle controlunit 630) is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. Process 670 isshown to include bringing portable electronic device 602 near trainingcircuit 614 of vehicle control system 600 (e.g., bringing portableelectronic device 602 within a few centimeters of training circuit 614of vehicle control system 600)(step 672). When portable electronicdevice 602 is near training circuit 614 of vehicle control system 600,information is exchanged between portable electronic device 602 andvehicle control system 600 (step 674). This information exchange mayinclude exchanging authentication information (e.g., a passkey),identification information (e.g., unique identifiers of vehicle controlsystem 600 and/or portable electronic device 602), command, request, orresponse information (e.g., a request from portable electronic device602 to initiate a pairing activity, a response from vehicle controlsystem 600 having an identifier and/or a passkey, etc.). Portableelectronic device 602 and vehicle control system 600 may then be paired(step 676) via transceivers different than those used during theexchange of information of step 674. The pairing information may bestored in both or either of portable electronic device 602 and vehiclecontrol system 600 for future pairings (step 678). The informationstored may be the information exchanged in step 674, informationexchanged during pairing step 676, or otherwise.

It should be noted that control unit 630 and/or its varying detailedcomponents or modules can be integrated with and/or connected to any ofthe embodiments described herein. For example, data processing system632 may be configured to facilitate and/or control the remote deviceactivation activity of FIGS. 1-5B.

Induction Field Communication for Controlling Use of Portable ElectronicDevices in a Vehicle

Referring now to FIG. 7A, a schematic diagram of a vehicle interior 702is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. Vehicle interior 702 isshown to include a near field communication (NFC) area 704 at a floorconsole location 706 between the driver seat and the passenger seat andposition forward near the dashboard or center stack area. NFC area 704may include a training circuit (or at least an antenna for a trainingcircuit) as previously described. According to various exemplaryembodiments, the antenna of NFC area 704 is configured to be mounted inthe vehicle at a center stack location, a dashboard location, a centerconsole location, an overhead console, a floor console location, aninstrument panel location, a door panel location, a visor location, arear-view mirror, a headliner location, or any other vehicle location.Area 704 may be a bin or container that opens and closes to totallysurround the portable device or the bin may be permanently open on oneor more sides.

Government laws have been enacted to restrict use of handsets invehicles. One method to assist adherence to these rules would be toinstall systems/components within the vehicle that interfere with and/orotherwise degrade the performance of certain handset functions to anextent that effectively renders them unstable. Some vehicles makehandset use and communications difficult from within the interior of thevehicle. This may be due to degradation of the wireless signals to andfrom the handset resulting from vehicle structural materials and/ormaterials embedded in the vehicle glass that interfere with and/orotherwise negatively impact the signal characteristics. One or moreareas (e.g., pads, bins, containers, interior panels, etc.) where aportable electronic device may be placed within the vehicle could bedesigned with equipment to enhance the wireless performance the portableelectronic device. For example, these areas could be configured torestrict wireless signals that could contribute to signal degradationfrom reaching the portable electronic device (e.g., the bin could beshielded).

Referring now to FIG. 7B, NFC area 740 is part of an isolation bin 732installed in vehicle dash 730 of vehicle 720, according to an exemplaryembodiment. NFC area 740 is shown as located near and/or adjacent apower supply unit 736 and a wired interface 738, which may also be partof isolation bin 732. Isolation bin 732 may further include an interface734 for coupling to an active, passive, or hybrid antenna module mountedto the vehicle (e.g., near an exterior surface of the vehicle, on anexterior surface of the vehicle, exterior the vehicle, etc.). Bin 732may be coupled to control system 724 and portable device 742 maycommunicate with the control system via a communicative coupling (e.g.,via wired interface 738, via NFC area 740, via RF transceiver 741)between electronics of bin 732 and control system 724. A vehicle 720having bin 732 may also include a jamming device 726 configured to jamthe signal of one or more unauthorized mobile devices 728. Antennamodule 721 may facilitate improved communications between portableelectronic device 742 and a wireless service/remote source 722.

Referring still to FIG. 7B, when a user enters vehicle 720 he or shecould place his or her portable electronic device 742 in isolation bin732. NFC area 740 can be used to exchange pairing information betweenportable electronic device 742 and control system 724. Using the pairinginformation, RF transceiver 741 (e.g., a Bluetooth transceiver) can forma wireless communication link with portable electronic device 742.Control system 724 can use the wireless communication link forhands-free communication activities involving portable electronic device742. The user may also plug the portable electronic device 742 intowired interface 738 (which may be a docking station, a cord, orotherwise) to receive charging power from PSU 736 and/or to send and/orreceive information to/from portable electronic device 742. According toan exemplary embodiment, isolation bin 732 is shielded so that externalelectromagnetic interference does not negatively affect the operation ofportable electronic device 742. Isolation bin 732 may further includeinterface 734 which may include an antenna and transmitting/receivingelements for facilitating communications between portable electronicdevice 742 and the outside work (e.g., despite the shielding ofisolation bin 732). Communication received at interface 734 fromportable electronic device 742 can be transmitted (e.g., boosted,broadcast, repeated, etc.) via antenna interface module 721 havingantennas near or at a vehicle exterior location. Communication receivedat antenna interface module 721 can be transmitted to portableelectronic device 742 via interface 734.

Referring further to vehicle 720, jamming device 726 may be provided tovehicle 720 to disable the use of unauthorized mobile device 728.Control system 724 may be configured to enable jamming device 726 athighway speeds, on an ongoing basis, or based on other control logic.Accordingly, if a driver would like to utilize a portable electronicdevice for a phone conversation, to browse the internet, to send/receivetext messages, or for any other purpose, the driver would need to placethe portable electronic device in isolation bin 732 and use thehands-free features provided by RF transceiver 741 and control system724.

In embodiments without jamming device 726, isolation bin 732 may not beshielded and NFC area 740 and RF transceiver 741 can be used to controlcommunications within vehicle 720. For example, portable electronicdevices 742 and 728 could include mandatory software that is configuredto disable operation of the mobile phone when sent an “unauthorized use”signal from a vehicle control system/RF transceiver. Because of therequirement that portable electronic device be brought withincentimeters of NFC area 740, NFC area 740 may be used to confirm that auser is not holding the portable electronic device up to his or her earor otherwise manually manipulating portable electronic device 742 whiledriving. Portable electronic devices not placed within bin 732 anddetectable by NFC area 740 while the car is moving may receive the“unauthorized use” signal and be disabled for certain functions (e.g.,all but emergency calls, 911 calls, etc.). Software on the portableelectronic devices for receiving the “unauthorized use” signal may beconfigured to respond to incoming text messages or calls with stockresponses such as—“the cell phone you called is in a moving vehicle,please leave a message or try again later.”

Referring now FIG. 7C, a control unit 750 for mounting to a vehicle isshown, according to an exemplary embodiment. Control unit 750 is shownto include a connection to NFC area 776 and power supply 780 is shown ascoupled to charging area 778. Jamming circuitry 760 may be included withcontrol unit 750. When training circuit 786 is near NFC area 776,jamming circuitry 760 may be configured to be disabled and RFtransceiver 758 will pair with transceiver 784 so that portableelectronic device 782 may receive communication from remote server 788.Hands-free control module 762 can utilize NFC area 776 to ensure thatportable electronic device 782 is kept near NFC area 776 or in a bin(e.g., bin 732 shown in FIG. 7B). For example, if portable electronicdevice 782 is removed from a bin having NFC area 776, hands-free controlmodule 762 can cause portable electronic device 782 to terminate itsconnection to remote server 788 (e.g., terminate its mobile phoneconnection) via a command sent from RF transceiver 758.

While the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures and describedherein are presently preferred, it should be understood that theembodiments are offered by way of example only. Accordingly, the presentapplication is not limited to a particular embodiment, but extends tovarious modifications that nevertheless fall within the scope of theappended claims.

The construction and arrangement of the systems and methods as shown inthe various exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only afew embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, manymodifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions,structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values ofparameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, etc.). For example, the position of elements may bereversed or otherwise varied and the nature or number of discreteelements or positions may be altered or varied. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thepresent disclosure. The order or sequence of any process or method stepsmay be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments.Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be madein the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplaryembodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure include programproducts comprising machine-readable media for carrying or havingmachine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Suchmachine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with aprocessor. By way of example, such machine-readable media can compriseRAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magneticdisk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other mediumwhich can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form ofmachine-executable instructions or data structures and which can beaccessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or othermachine with a processor. When information is transferred or providedover a network or another communications connection (either hardwired,wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a machine, themachine properly views the connection as a machine-readable medium.Thus, any such connection is properly termed a machine-readable medium.Combinations of the above are also included within the scope ofmachine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions include, forexample, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer,special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines toperform a certain function or group of functions.

Although the figures may show a specific order of method steps, theorder of the steps may differ from what is depicted. Also two or moresteps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Suchvariation will depend on the software and hardware systems chosen and ondesigner choice. All such variations are within the scope of thedisclosure. Likewise, software implementations could be accomplishedwith standard programming techniques with rule based logic and otherlogic to accomplish the various connection steps, processing steps,comparison steps and decision steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for configuring a vehicle wirelesscontrol system, comprising: a first circuit configured to receive afirst information from a portable electronic device via near fieldcommunication using inductive coupling between the portable electronicdevice and the first circuit when the portable electronic device isbrought within a near field of the first circuit, wherein the firstinformation is based on a second information that the portableelectronic device received from a remote device; a second circuitconfigured to use the first information received from the portableelectronic device to cause formatting of a control signal by selecting afrequency of the control signal and by generating a code to be includedin the control signal based on the first information; and a radiofrequency transmitter operable in the vehicle wireless control systemand configured to transmit the control signal to the remote device tocontrol the remote device.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprisinga user interface device, wherein the radio frequency transmitter isfurther configured to transmit the control signal to the remote devicebased on user input received at the user interface device.
 3. The systemof claim 1, further comprising a positioning device, wherein the secondcircuit is further configured to cause the radio frequency transmitterto transmit the control signal based on positioning information receivedfrom the positioning device.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the firstinformation received by the first circuit from the portable electronicdevice represents a manufacturer identifier.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein the first information received by the first circuit from theportable electronic device includes at least one of a control code orfrequency of the control signal to be transmitted to the remote device.6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first circuit is furtherconfigured to automatically receive the first information from theportable electronic device when the portable electronic device isbrought within the near field of the first circuit.
 7. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the first circuit is further configured to receive thefirst information from the portable electronic device followingauthentication of communication with the portable electronic device. 8.The system of claim 7, wherein the first circuit is further configuredto provide authentication information to the portable electronic devicein response to receiving a request from the portable electronic deviceto initiate pairing.
 9. A method of configuring a vehicle wirelesscontrol system, comprising: receiving a first information at a firstcircuit from a portable electronic device via near field communicationusing inductive coupling between the portable electronic device and thefirst circuit when the portable electronic device is brought within anear field of the first circuit, wherein the first information is basedon a second information that the portable electronic device receivedfrom a remote device; causing formatting of a control signal by a secondcircuit using the first information received from the portableelectronic device by selecting a frequency of the control signal and bygenerating a code to be included in the control signal based on thefirst information; and transmitting the control signal from a radiofrequency transmitter operable in the vehicle wireless control system tothe remote device to control the remote device.
 10. The method of claim9, further comprising transmitting the control signal to the remotedevice based on user input received at a user interface device.
 11. Themethod of claim 9, further comprising causing the radio frequencytransmitter to transmit the control signal based on positioninginformation received from a positioning device.
 12. The method of claim9, wherein the first information received by the first circuit from theportable electronic device represents a manufacturer identifier.
 13. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the first information received by the firstcircuit from the portable electronic device includes at least one of acontrol code or frequency of the control signal to be transmitted to theremote device.
 14. The method of claim 9, further comprisingautomatically receiving the first information from the portableelectronic device when the portable electronic device is brought withinthe near field of the first circuit.
 15. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising receiving the first information from the portable electronicdevice following authentication of communication with the portableelectronic device.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprisingreceiving a request to initiate pairing from the portable electronicdevice at the first circuit, and providing authentication informationfrom the first circuit to the portable electronic device in response tothe request.